Is it time to rip the band-aid off in Pittsburgh? The fact is the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers were not a Championship contending team after all. They were blown out by the Cleveland Browns at home in a game that ended with Ben Roethlisberger in tears. Let me start off by saying Pittsburgh loves Ben Roethlisberger. His legacy in Pittsburgh was truly amazing. He will become a Hall of Fame Player once he retires and there is nothing left for him to prove.
Do we really want to see Ben Roethlisberger sitting on a bench by himself after another playoff game alone wondering what he is going to do in the offseason? That was painful to watch and one we shouldn't watch ever again.
It was not long ago when the Pittsburgh Steelers parted ways with Troy Polamalu. Troy was a one of a kind football player who was told he was "old and slow," by the end of his career. This story sounds familiar in regards to Ben Roethlisberger. For the majority of the Steelers offseason, the media will be calling for Ben Roethlisberger to retire. He is due $41 million in the offseason and the Steelers have a tough decision to make in the offseason. If the Steelers part ways with Ben Roethlisberger they will save around $20 million in cap. The question is do you keep Ben for one more year and pay him $41 million or can you find a quarterback who is better than Ben for $20 million?
Mike Tomlin on Ben Roethlisberger still playing at a high level in the NFL: "I do."
Whether Mike Tomlin feels Ben Roethlisberger can still play at a high level or not the inevitable is going to happen in Pittsburgh whether he likes it or not. Father time is undefeated. The Steelers have to start looking at their future or they will only prolong more losing seasons. That could cost Mike Tomlin's job in the near future. Tomlin should take his own advice and not live in his fears. Start the process of rebuilding the Pittsburgh Steelers the right way. Stop prolonging the inevitable.
Ben Roethlisberger on his future in football: "It's going to start between me and God, Lot of praying. And a lot of talking with my family. I still have a year left on my contract. I hope the Steelers want me back if that's the way we go."
No matter what the Steelers decide to do in the offseason they have to get their quarterback of the future. There is no way around it anymore. Even if that quarterback has to play behind Ben Roethlisberger next year they at least need to position someone to take the keys from Roethlisberger.
Should Ben retire? I think he should. He had a great career in Pittsburgh. Ben has won Two Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He will become a Hall of Famer and will leave a huge legacy in Pittsburgh. If he continues to play he will continue to ruin his legacy in Pittsburgh. We do not want to see Ben Roethlisberger become a player who continues to play and ruin his legacy. Too many players in professional sports never know when to hang it up when their time is up. Then their legacy becomes tarnished.
Ben had an amazing career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the time has come to retire. It is time for Ben Roethlisberger to enjoy his family and the rest of his life outside of football. 18 years is a long time in the NFL. We are forever grateful for what Ben Roethlisberger has done for the City of Pittsburgh and it breaks my heart to write this but this is the end of the Ben Roethlisberger Era in Pittsburgh. It will not be fun in the Ben Roethlisberger post-era, but it's time to look toward the future. For the sake of the Pittsburgh Steelers Organization.